John Al Garner, Jr., 81, of Wister, OK passed away Sunday, November 6, 2011 in Talihina, OK. John Al was a veteran of the US Army. He was owner of Garner’s Garage which has been passed down from father to son and has been open in Wister for over 100 years. John Al was a member of the Wister Fire Department, instrumental in its organization, was Fire Chief and retired from the Fire Department after serving over 24 years, of which he was very proud. He was a member of the Wister School Board for 25 years. He served as Mayor of Wister. He was always civic minded and very involved in many aspects of the Wister community. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Wister for over 60 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Al Sr. & Bessie LaRuth (Cox) Garner.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Dorothy of the home; daughter, Sherry Garner of the home; brother & sister in law, Jack Wayne & Jimmie Garner of Ft. Smith, AR; niece & her husband, Brenda & Jim Richardson of Bedford, TX; numerous great nieces, nephews, & cousins; brother in law, Donald Waters & wife, Earline of Ponca City, OK; special cousins, Tommy & Carolyn Ward of Wister; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.
Services will be 2 pm, Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Wister, OK with Rev. Don Taylor & Rev. PJ Atkinson officiating. Interment will follow in Ellis Chapel Cemetery, Wister, OK. Pallbearers will be Bocky Martin, Ben Curtis, Mack Essman, Carl Whitlock, Donnie DeWitt, Dean Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Ike & Ikie Caudell & Harrell Bright.
The family will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6-8 to visit with relatives & friends.
What a good man we have lost, but out loss is Heaven's gain. I will never forget the many chats I had with John in his garage while I pastored at the Wister Nazarene Church. I chuckled one time when he made sure I knew he was a member at First Baptist and he was not changing. I assured him I was just a friend and all was cool. God bless you Dorothy and Sherry. I love you both.
ReplyDeleteJohn was a very special person. He was a good friend. People will never know how much he did to help our town of Wister. He worked every day and most nights at the Wister fire department. A lot of nights past midnight being sure all fire equipment was ready to be used in case of a fire. John was loved by many and will be missed. A person like John only comes around maybe once in a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteDorothy, Sherry and all who loved John Al: I am sincerely sorry for the lose of this fine man and cannot even imagine the pain you are feeling. I hope that you will find peace and comfort with each passing day and live for your good and true memories of this good man. Love gives you memories no one can steal and death leaves a hole no one can heal. God Bless! We are with you in our hearts. Buck and Connie Truex and family.
ReplyDelete